Welcome & Introducing the Labyrinth!

In our first lesson, Apollo and Artemis classes have learned about the story of the labyrinth, and how it connects to the mysterious Minoan Civilisation, discovered by English Archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans.

The very first task was to draw what you each thought a labyrinth looked like in the outside space in chalk. Here are some of your drawings:

We then returned to the classroom to discuss what a labyrinth was and where the idea of a labyrinth originated – the story Theseus, the Minotaur, Ariadne, and Daedalus’ dark and complicated maze.

Arthur Evans had long been obsessed with finding the civilisation behind the labyrinth story; when he uncovered the remains of a vast palace on the island of Crete – at the site known as Knossos – he named the civilisation which had made it the “Minoans” after the legendary King Minos. We talked about the story of King Minos and his son the minotaur, locked up in a labyrinth which had been built by the great designer Daedalus!

The two groups then looked at replicas of artefacts which were discovered, such as vases with octopuses painted over them, a musical instrument, a snake goddess and finally the fascinating (and as yet undeciphered) Phaistos Disk. Members of the classes had very interesting ideas about what this might be recording: some said it was a calendar, others a sundial, and others a recipe! If you’re interested in reading more about the Phaistos Disk, here is an informative article about this fascinating artefact: Phaistos Disk

Minoan art, Crete, Phaistos Disc, possibly dating to the middle or late Minoan Bronze Age (2nd millennium B.C.), Side A, Fired clay, It has 45 hieroglyphic characters engraved on both sides, along with mobile elements in spiral arrangement from the outside toward the center, Archaeological Museum of Heraklion. (Photo by Prisma/UIG/Getty Images)

Homework:

Design and create your own maze or labyrinth – out of anything you like! Clay, paper, cake, wood… The possibilities are endless. Due in Friday 14th September.